Flood Situation in Bihar

This year, 18 out of the 38 districts of Bihar are heavily devastated by flood. Approximately 12.6 million people in 1,965 panchayats of 171 blocks in the state are impacted. Total loss of human life due to the flood reached 253 (Times of India report, dated 21/08/17). Crop and livestock loss due to flood is yet to be estimated but predictions are quite high. The unprecedented rain amounting to 525mm in eastern Nepal together with 250mm rainfall in the border districts of the Bihar over three days caused devastating floods in the bordering districts.

Water stagnation on village roads near Jhanjharpur

Flood Situation in Madhubani

The District Magistrate of Madhubani said about 5 lakh people of 15 blocks of the district have been affected. Total 13 flood related deaths have been reported in the district. While the actual rainfall for the season (942 mm) was not significantly higher than the average rainfall (846 mm) of same period, the rainfall intensity and rising river water has added to flooding and ponding.

Croplands inundated with flood water along National Highway 57

Flood affect our project village

Our project village Bhagwatipur is worst affected by flood. No loss of life from the villages is reported so far. In Bhagwatipur village almost entire paddy crop washed away by flood except few patches of elevated uplands. Our transplanted paddy crops at the intervention sites 2, 3 and 4 from Bhagwatipur are completely washed away and the level of damage is very severe. There is no crop loss from intervention site 1 of Bhagwatipur. In Mauahi, floods have caused severe damage to some crops such that the crops is completely washed away.. If the rainfall continues, the situation is likely to get worse. During the flood events there was standing water of about 3-3.5 feet, and at present, standing water has receded from experimental fields, and it may take about 2-3 weeks to make the soil workable.

Fig 1. Cumulative rainfall at Bhagwatipur plotted against the 50 year wet and dry years and the average rainfall

Fig. 2 Comparison of monthly average and actual rainfall at Bhagwatipur

Mid-Point Update from Saptari

An update from the field in Saptari at the midpoint of the project shows that there have been significant changes to the way farmers in the intervention villages are cropping in the dry season. These changes are increasing production and allowing farmers to make more profit from each field.

The blend of social and technical interventions have prompted farmers to work together to grow high value vegetable crops without major interruption to the traditionally cultivated staple crops.

The enthusiasm from the farmers can be seen through their attendance at group meeting and training events on topics including collective farming, group management, governance, gender, seed preparation, fertiliser management and vegetable production.

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